Africa-Press – Namibia. The youthful Ansune Smith was the star of the show as she shattered the women’s hammer throw record at the National Senior Athletics Championships over the weekend.
Smith (16) shattered Karlien Botha’s national record of 38.57m by more than seven metres. She already broke the record with one of her earlier throws before improving the distance with a throw of 45.81 with her final attempt.
Smith says she was astounded by her performance.
“I’m quite shocked. My coach and I aimed for 43m and then my first throw I got 43m, so I decided to put in everything for my last throw. Then I got the 45m, so we’re very shocked and I’m very happy with myself and proud that we could have accomplished this,” she says.
“I train an hour and a half throughout the week and it takes a lot of energy out of me. Being about the only person doing it, it’s very lonely as well, so sometimes I feel quite demotivated and it takes a lot of discipline. But once you accomplish something like this, all of your motivation comes back and you feel ready to carry on,” she adds.
Smith’s sister, Annelize, came a distant second with a throw of 33.88m.
That was the only record of the championships but there were several other events that produced some exciting races.
The 400m produced thrilling races with both the men and women’s finals going down to the wire.
In the men’s final, Elvis Gaseb just beat Thomas Kuhanga to the line in a time of 45.89 which was just outside his national record of 45.73, while Kuhanga came second in 46.00 and Sem Simanda third in 48.29.
The women’s final was even closer with Tuuliki Angala and Kambiri Kazaatjo both crossing the line in 55.94 seconds, to share the gold medal, while Napuumue Hengari won bronze in 56.71.
Angala also won the 800m final in a time of 2:14.15, followed by Hilde Jairus (2:16.88) and Victoria Lisias (2:18:14), while the men’s 800m went down to the wire with David Dam taking gold in 1:53.53 ahead of Asser Nalukaku (1:53.69).
Maria Kanyanga was in excellent form form, winning three gold medals in the women’s middle and long distance events. She won the 1 500m in 4:44.39, just beating Hilde Jairus (4:44.95) to the line; the 5 000m in 18:25.24, followed by Frida Khadiya (18:58.22) and Johanna Abraham (19:12.45); and the 10 000m in 39:35.50, with Kadhiya coming second in 40:01.65.
Jade Nangula dominated the women’s sprints, winning both the 100m and 200m titles.
She won the 100m in a new personal best time of 11.67 seconds, followed by Hanganeni Fikunawa (12.30) and Erin Koff (12.38), while she won the 200m title in 23.82 which was just outside her personal best of 23.77. Kambiri Kazaatjo came second in 25.73 and Hakurua Javaria third in 26.40.
The men’s 100m went down to the wire with Magano Naseb (10.42) just pipping Elton Hoeseb (10.43) to the line, while Charley Matundu came third in 10.48.
The 200m final was another thriller with Matundu winning gold in 20.89, followed by Elton Hoeseb (20.94) and Elvis Gaseb (21.09).
Nicholis du Plessis gave a fine performance to win gold in the 110m hurdles in 14.61 seconds followed by Cameron Brandt (19.26) and Johan Steyn (26.03). Du Plessis (20) is now within striking distance of Flip Bredenhann’s long-standing national record of 14.12 which was established in 1980.
Du Plessis also won the 400m hurdles in 54.73, followed by Christo van Rooyen (58.64) and Sebastian Nayambe (1:02.99).
In the men’s field events, Ryan Williams was in fine form, winning two gold medals in the discus and shot put events.
He won the discus in 57.10, which was not too far off his national record of 61.15m, followed by Lwyk Viljoen (41.10m), while he also won the shotput in 14.92m, followed by Viljoen (11.97m) and Jasper Engelbrecht (11.51m).
Benjamin Hendrikse won gold in the men’s high jump with a height of 2m, William van Wyk won the men’s hammer throw with a distance of 24.66m, Jasper Engelbrecht won the javelin with a distance of 56.38m, and Lionel Coetzee won the long jump with a distance of 7.76m.
In the women’s field events, Alexandra Scheepers won the high jump with a height of 1.65m, Marike Weitz won the shot put (13.43m), Paikea Garas won the long jump (5.47m), Karlien Botha won the discus (43.24m) and Karla Terblanche won the javelin (32.86m).
In para-sport, Bradley Murere won the men’s T11 100m in 11.71, while Petrus Karuli won the 200m in 24.49 as well as the 400m in 55.37.
Lahja Iipinge won both the women’s T11 100m in 12.96 and the 200m in 27.60.
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